Spray nozzle



H. D. JOHNSTON 1,974,538

SPRAY NOZZLE Sept. 25, 1934.

Filed May 5. 1934 INVENTOR HDJoZz 12.5 $010 Patented Sept. 25, I934 UNITED s'rArEs r TEN E,

1,974,538" SPRAY NOZZLE Harry D. Johnston, Fresno, Calif. Application May 5,1934, Serial No. 724,102

' 7 Claims. (01; 299 140 v This invention relates to spray nozzles and is directed particularly to a spray nozzle for spraying liquid insecticide for insect controlin vineyards, orchards or vegetable gardens.

v The principal object of my invention is to provide a spray nozzle, operated by a blast of air, which is constructed to completely atomize a liquid insecticide and spray it as an exceedingly fine mist or fog upon the vines, trees or vegetation to be treated. In the control of said insect pests, such as grape leaf hoppers, itis essential that both sides of the leaf be subjected to the insecticide in order to assure as near a complete kill as possible. With my nozzle I estimate 16 that a ninety-nine per cent kill of grape leaf hoppers is accomplished.

A further object of my invention is to provide a liquid spray nozzle which is readily and rapidly interchangeable with the duster nozzles of power clusters which employ a heavy blast of air to apply the dust for agricultural fumigation. Thus, with the use of a single machine, it is possible to dust or to spray, depending upon the type of insect to be combated. I 7

An additional object of my invention is to provide a spray nozzle which will, by completely atomizing the liquid insecticide, spray a rela small quantity Figure 1 is a side view of the spray nozzle as it is mounted for use.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal view of my. spray noz zle partly in section. i Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the nozzle.

Figure 4 is an end View of my spray nozzle.

Figure 5 'is an enlarged section takenlonfthe line 55 of Figure 3, illustrating the feed jet unit.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the numeral 1 denotes 'a stationary nozzle casing 7 having a flare on the forward end thereof, as indicated at 2. A plurality of spokes3 are disposed within the casing 1, one of said spokes being provided with a liquid inlet passage 4 adapted at 5 for threaded the liquid inlet passage 4 in the spoke 3.

connection-with a liquid supply line 6 by means of compression fittings 7. f

Asillustrated in Figure 1 the complete nozzle is supported by means of a bracket S at an outwardly and upwardly disposed angle. A flexible air supply tube T connects with the nozzle as shown. a

A rearwardly projecting hub 8 is integral with and is supported axially by the spokes 3. This hub 8 is provided with a central bore 9 and annular shoulders 10 and 11' within the bore 9 at the forward end thereof. A streamlined enclosing cap 8a is secured on the rear end of the hub -8. An annular end thrust bearing 12 is disposed in the bore 9 and abuts the shoulder 10. Annular; antifriction bearings 13 and 14 are spaced in the bore 9, one'bearing 13 being disposed immediately adjacent the end thrust bearing 12. A shaft 15 is rotatably supported by the bearings 13 and 14. These bearings 13 and 14 are permanently spaced by means of a sleeve 16 on the shaft 12 between said bearings. A nut 17 is threaded on the inner end of the shaft 15 and contacts the outer face of the antifriction bearing 14.

A rotary nozzle 18 flared as shown having a plurality of-spokes 19 and a centrally bored hub 20, is secured on the forward end of the shaft 15 by means of the nut 21. By means of said nut 21 the inner face of the hub 20 is drawn into contact with the thrust bearing 12. This rotary nozzle 18 is provided with a plurality of arcuate vanes 22 which project from the outer sides of said nozzle. The rotary nozzle 18 mounted as describedis spaced from the spokes 3 of the stationary casing -1 and therefore can revolve freely with the shaft 15.

The spokes 19 of the rotary nozzle 18 are formed as shown in Figure 3 with one side thereof at an acute angle. to the flow of air with the leading edges attherear sides of said spokes. With this construction these spokes are, in function, blades which intersect the flow of air through the nozzle as well'asthe liquid from the feed jet unit 23 in order to completely atomize the liquid insecticide and mix it with the flow of air.

The feed jet unit 23 cast integral-with one of the stationarycasing spokes3 has jets 23a drilled therein as illustrated in .Figure 5. The feed jetunit 23 projects forwardly from the spoke 3 within .theprotary nozzle 18 and terminates short of the'spokes 19. The jets 23a communicate with The jet unit 23 is axially offset as shown.

The spokes 3 have a rearwardly facing side thereof at an acute angle to the flow of air as at 24 in Figure 5. The purpose of this angular face is to deflect the blast of air against the vanes 22 of the rotary nozzle 18.

In use, a nozzle is usually mounted on each side of the vehicle carrying the air blower and insecticide tank. These nozzles are suspended from brackets S on the vehicle at an outward and upward angle to the ground level, as shown in Figure 1. The air supply tube '1 leading from the air blower to the nozzle is of flexible material which enables the nozzle to be carried by an operator working beside the vehicle, when it is desired to apply the spray from various angles as the operator may desire. When suspended from a bracket the nozzle is disposed at such outward and upward angle in order to spray the under side of the leaves as well as the upper side.

In operation a heavy blast of air flows through the flexible tube T into the stationary nozzle casing 1 and strikes the angular side of the spokes 3 and is partially deflected against the vanes 22 causing the rotary nozzle 18 to revolve at an exceedingly high speed. With the rotary nozzle 18 revolving at such a high speed the liquid in- ''f secticide flowing from the jets 23a of the jet unit 23 is immediately and completely atomized by the angular blades 19 intersecting the flow of the liquid, After the liquid is thus atomized it is also mixed with the blast of air through the rotary nozzle and is sprayed from the nozzle as a fine mist or fog onto the vine, tree or vegetation being treated.

, Due to the construction of my spray nozzle it is possible to dust or spray with only one power machine which will furnish the necessary air blast to operate the nozzle, One of the great advantages of my nozzle is that it may be easily mounted for spraying on the common air actuated duster machine by merely substituting the spray nozzle for the usual duster nozzle. It is of course necessary to mount a liquid insecticide supply tank on the vehicle to supply the liquid to the spray nozzle through a supply line 6 as shown in Figure 1.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such. a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. i

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, stillin practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of. the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters'Patent is: V

l. A spray nozzle comprising an open ended rotary nozzle member, means to flow air through the, member, means provided with said member whereby it will be rotated by such air fiow, means to feed spray material into the member, and means functioning with the rotation of the member to cause the material as it isfed into said v member to be agitated and mixed with the air to feed spray material into the inner end of the member and in the direction of its outer end but in offset relation to the axis thereof, and means formed with the member and functioning with its rotation to throw the air flowing through the member centrifugally thereof and across the path of the material being fed into the same.

3. A spray nozzle comprising an open ended rotary nozzle member, means to flow air through the member, means provided with said member whereby it will be rotated by such air flow, means to feed spray material into the inner end of the member and in the direction of its outer end but in offset relation to the axis thereof, and radial blades formed with the member internally thereof and beyond the material feed means and arranged to cut through the air flowing through the member and throw such air both centrifugally and forwardly of the member.

4. A structure as in claim 1, said first named means comprising an open ended casing surrounding the member in spaced relation thereto and adapted at its inner end for connection to' an 'air blast conduit.

5. A structure as in claim 1, said first named means comprising an open ended casing surrounding the member in spaced relation thereto and adapted at its inner end for connectionto an air blast conduit, and said second named means comprising angularly disposed vanes projecting outwardly from the member but within the casing.

6. A spray nozzle comprising an open ended casing adapted at its inner end for connection to an air blast conduit, spokes projecting inwardly I material extending therethrough from the periphery of the casing to a termination inwardly of the periphery of the member at itsinner end and in facing relation to its outer end, means to cause the member to be rotated by the air flowing through the casing, and means in said member and functioning with its rotation to agitate the air flowing through the same.

7. A spray nozzle comprising an open endedcasing adapted at its inner end for connection to an air blast conduit, spokes projecting inwardly of the casing intermediate its ends, a central hub connected toand projecting from said spokes toward the inner end of the casing, an open ended nozzle member larger than the hub disposed in the casing in clearance relation thereto and in front of the hub, a shaft provided with the member axially thereof and turnably mounted in the hub, means to feed spray material into the member at its inner end from the exterior of the casing, means to cause the member to be rotated by the air flowing through the casing, and means I functioning with the rotation of said member to agitate the air and material as the latter is fed intothe member and cause an intimate mixing of the air and material.

HARRY D. JOHNSTON. 

